Kenji Hall
Consuls and carols
Diplomacy requires proficient hosting, especially during Christmas. We visit the festive residences of the Czech, Danish and Italian ambassadors to discover the importance of time-old traditions and a talented, patriotic chef.
Child’s play?
Being a toy company head might seem like a dream job but it’s not all fun and games. Monocle visits the inner children in charge in Japan, Canada and Germany.
Into the woods
A spirit of unruly fun presides over the Good Neighbors Jamboree. The open-air celebration of retail, food and music attracts thousands of visitors from across Japan to this remote region.
Municipal concerns
Forget the stereotype of the ceremonial mayor. Monocle stalks the corridors of city halls around the world to assess the most powerful and persuasive urban leaders, evaluating their successes, failures and ongoing challenges.
Market forces
The Monocle Retail Survey returns, scouring the globe for the best new shops and smartest developers. This year’s review is designed to inspire and intrigue, from Buenos Aires to Seoul and beyond.
Media
We’re caught by film-maker Naotaro Endo’s documentary on Tokyo’s iconic Tsukiji fish market.
Oceania
The fight for Sydney’s modern architectural heritage, plus New Zealand’s total war on non-native species.
Wild stock
Far beyond the last city bus stop, you’ll find shop owners for whom a loyal clientele and room to roam beats the sleek certainties of urban retail. We meet three trailblazers.
Spirit of enterprise
As the first Suntory president from outside its founding family, Takeshi Niinami has used all his management guile to help the classic Japanese drinks brand expand beyond its home market.
In good company
We all want to work in a friendly, challenging environment. The companies featured here are benchmarks in their fields, from looking after employees to maintaining traditions or simply providing the smartest staff uniforms.
